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A good way to improve your outdoor space in order to have lovely family gatherings in the warmer days is to consider incorporating some outdoor room furniture into your outdoor living areas.
Why not have another fun activity room that’s more in touch with natural light and fresh air? Challenging yourself to take this step is not only worthwhile, but inexpensive too.
Finding the right furniture and having the right resources is the key to turning this additional outdoor space to a room where you can lounge in.
The purposes and activities
Image source: Marylou Sobel Interior Design
Ask yourself why you want to upgrade the space. Whether you plan on making a dining area, want to have dinner and birthday parties or just wish to enjoy a good book, you can make the space cater your needs by just knowing what to look for.
Having a list of all your wishes and needs is the best way to organize your preferences and thoughts because it will steer you into the right direction.
For example, a small patio meant for cocktail nights wouldn’t need a dining table, but will definitely need side tables and stools.
Try it out first
Image source: Platinum Series by Mark Molthan
Looks aren’t everything! Taking a seat and taking the time to try out some of the potential furniture for your patio is important and will influence how much time you spend in the space.
Surely you wouldn’t want to sit and relax on an uncomfortable chair or couch for hours as it will evoke no relaxation at all. Just because it’s in the outdoors doesn’t mean it needs to be underrated – comfort is just as important as aesthetic.
The furniture’s Function
Image source: Michelle Walker architects
Your main guide in helping you decide what to buy for your outdoor space should be the purpose you intend to give to all of the elements in it. Your purpose might be creating a stylish look or it may be creating an entertaining space. Every purpose has its own requirements, so it’s best to start from there and then look up outdoor room ideas.
Thankfully, many online furniture shops offer a wide range of outdoor furniture products by function. Whether you’re looking for great outdoor furniture for a balcony setting, dining, or lounge, these shops can help you find the best products based on your desired purpose.
Quality means many things
Image source: Exteriors By Chad Robert
A way to determine whether what you want for your space is quality and durable is checking the materials first. Strong bones and resilient materials like metal, timber, wicker and rattan are known for being strong and long-lasting and are definitely a good choice.
Besides the raw materials, you can also tell good quality outdoor furniture from poor ones by checking how it’s constructed. Make sure to examine the corners and joints of the item, as they can indicate whether the furniture is of good quality or not.
Generally, a piece of perfectly made furniture doesn’t use glue, nails, and staples. They instead use dovetails, dowels, and pegs. Also, the corners require reinforcing locks to ensure they’re durable and long-lasting.
Don’t be afraid to invest
Image source: R.J. Gurley Construction
If you’ve decided that you want something worthwhile for your patio, then you shouldn’t consider investing in the furniture a problem. High quality comes with a high price, so you can’t expect plastic resin chairs to be as good and efficient as something that’s manufactured better.
It may look nice and not cost too much, but chances are you’ll need to change it in a short period of time. Same goes for any wicker pieces or wood products. You can also get good pointers by researching and reading reviews and consumer reports.
Look Underfoot
Image source: Busybee Design
Textile industries have been working on outdoor rugs that dry quickly and are more durable in outdoor settings. These advanced all-weather rugs are widely available and are perfect for tying the elements of the patio together. Their rich texture and home-y comfort enables a welcoming atmosphere for your outdoor space.
Pieces with many purposes
If you plan on using the space often, then work with furniture that can have more than one use. How relieving it is when you can use a decorative bench as a place to sit during dinners or have an ottoman that you can use as a sitting space for any party. The furniture should be stylish and practical.
Multiple shapes and sizes to choose from
Image source: Kim Duffin for Sublime Architectural Interiors
The layout of outdoor spaces is just as important as the layout for indoor ones, so keeping track of the proportions and scales of your furnishing elements is just as important as well.
A larger table is necessary for a soon-to-be dining area as opposed to a smaller side table that works better for a different use. For example, a table that’s too big might cramp up the space, as a smaller one may not be enough to fill the room and will require filling the space with meaningless pieces.
The furnishing and decorating process should be fun
Image source: Giulietti Schouten Architects
It’s all up to you. Use your creativity and determination to create an exciting and entertaining space where you can spend most of the days of the year. With choosing the right furniture, you can allow yourself a beautiful modern ambient to relax and enjoy in.
Modern furniture boosts the area’s value and appearance – a cozy day bed or appealing porch swings could instantly enhance the vibe, and you can even get hammocks to achieve that relaxing feeling.
Color Schemes
Image source: Shuler Architecture
Using color schemes allows you to free your artistic side and do something about the appeal of your patio. It doesn’t have to be the classic white or beige, you can further experiment with colors and patterns in order to achieve a modern impressionable outdoor room.
With the right finishes you can give the patio an airy and spacious feel while creating a warm and friendly ambient. Replace the traditional look with something like a lemony yellow or a strong fiery red.
What Material Best Suits Your Outdoor Space?
Wicker
Image source: Gordon + Greineder
This type of furniture is both light and durable, even though it doesn’t seem like it. Wicker furniture is indeed durable, especially if it has a higher quality like pieces made from rattan, one of the strongest vines in use.
Bamboo furniture is also considerably long-lasting. Waterproof coating is a must for wicker furniture because it prevents its deterioration.
Wrought Iron
Image source: Wagner Hodgson
Inexpensive, easily available and offering a large variety of hues to choose from – iron is a strong material that constitutes some of the finest and most effective furniture pieces that can be found in an outdoor space. The cons of working with iron are its fairly large weight and the amount of care it needs – painting it at least once every two years.
Aluminum
The use of aluminum isn’t recent – it’s a popular furnishing material that’s been present in many lawns and patios for years. Aside from its likeable appearance, the durability of aluminum is certainly impressive.
Being lighter than iron, it’s easier to move around and doesn’t cost much too. Cast aluminum pieces are very practical and have a wide use, as well as being a good addition to the outdoor room.
Wood
Image source: Centre Sky Architecture Ltd
Wood is one of those materials that you can find in many colors and shapes and the opportunity to work with whatever you prefer is one of its known benefits. You can find anything you need, ranging from eucalyptus to redwood.
The sure thing about wood is its durability and longevity, especially when it’s stained. It’s cost and variety of choices makes it one of the most appropriate options for outdoor furniture.
Taking good care of the furniture
Image source: Urban Landscape
Even though it’s obvious that one needs to take care of their furniture, it’s vital to deepen the knowledge on how exactly one can improve the quality and durability of their furniture pieces to maintain quality outdoor patio designs.
Wooden Furniture
Image source: Harrison’s Landscaping
Oils and stains are required to keep wooden furniture intact and in good shape in an outdoor space. Woods that have waxy finishes should be taken care of by using a soft cloth and gently cleaning it, as hard woods need to be scrubbed with lukewarm water mixed with soap.
Even the winters don’t stand a chance at ruining the furniture if it’s often treated. If you’re not using it, it’s best to keep it in the shade where it won’t be warped by he sunlight.
Moreover, you can protect your wooden outdoor furniture by using a sealer. It refers to a finish used to safeguard the item from moisture. The sealer will penetrate the wood’s pores to ensure water won’t seep through and damage your furniture. One of the best things about using a sealer is that it can be used effectively even in rainy weather or humid environments.
Caring For Rattan-Effect Furniture
Image source: K West Images, Interior and Garden Photography
Wiping with a damp cloth could be just enough to clean this type of furniture – the use of a pressure washer or scourer is unnecessary. Even though it’s weather resistant, it’s not recommended to keep it outdoors during harsh weather conditions.
For instance, the sun’s rays may harm the quality and the overall value of the rattan-effect furniture.
Because of this, it’s essential to protect your furniture by taking it inside if it’s not in use. Doing so allows you to preserve the vibrant appearance of the item against intense ultraviolet rays.
However, if the furniture is too heavy or bulky, you may consider using patio umbrellas as protection. You may also use UV protection sprays that block the rays and prevent your rattan-effect furniture from fading. Just spray on the furniture’s surface, and you can protect it from sun damage.
Metal Furniture
Using scourers may result in scratching, so the option is to just use warm water with soap when cleaning; if you’re planning on using a pressure washer, at least use it on a low setting.
Streaks may appear if not fully dried, so make sure to pay attention to the process. Metal furniture is good for keeping outside, but needs antirust treatment because it often tends to rust.
Plastic Furniture
Plastic can also be cleaned with soap and water or a pressure washer on a low setting. It’s important to keep plastic in the shade because it’s sensitive to sunlight and is prone to getting distorted and damaged.
Some kind of safety measures should be applied in order to maintain the furniture’s quality throughout the year.